Eighteen years after the fashion world classic The Devil Wears Prada captured the hearts of global audiences, its highly anticipated 2026 sequel is facing a widespread boycott. The controversy erupted from a newly released character introduction clip, thrusting 20th Century Studios into a PR crisis involving allegations of racism and “one-dimensional” Asian stereotyping.
Outrage from a 38-Second Clip
The firestorm began when the studio released a 38-second teaser in mid-April 2026. The clip introduces the new character Jin Chao (played by Helen J Shen), described as the “new assistant to the former assistant,” Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway). In this scene, Andy returns to work at Runway magazine and shares a brief dialogue with Jin Chao.
Social media immediately exploded with millions of views and thousands of outraged comments. The hashtag #BoycottDevilWearsPrada2 began to trend. Audiences, particularly the Asian-American community, argued that the film has regressed from modern cinematic progress by using “cheap” and disrespectful racial stereotypes to build the character.
When the “Devil” Loses Her Style: The Controversial Appearance
The first point of public anger is Jin Chao’s character design. Set in one of the most powerful fashion magazines in the world—where every character (including Andy Sachs in the first film) underwent a chic transformation—Jin Chao is presented as completely out of fashion.
The character appears with thick glasses, dull hair, and an outfit that netizens have dubbed a “fashion disaster from the last decade.” The stark contrast between Jin Chao’s look and her stylish colleagues reinforces an old trope: that Asians are merely studious, lack aesthetic sense, and are always out of place in high-end artistic or fashion environments. One Twitter user remarked: “It’s 2026, yet filmmakers still think a smart Asian person has to look like a dowdy bookworm.”
The Academic Record: The “Nerdy” Model Minority Trope
Beyond her appearance, the character’s dialogue has been heavily criticized. In the introduction, Jin Chao confidently lists a string of achievements: graduating from the prestigious Yale University with a 3.86 GPA, serving as the lead soprano for the Whiffenpoofs, and achieving a perfect ACT score of 36.
Cultural critics argue this is a textbook example of the “Model Minority” myth. Assigning the only Asian character in the film dry academic numbers instead of psychological depth makes her one-dimensional and soulless. Audiences are asking: Why can a white character succeed through grit and personality, while an Asian character must always carry a “massive” resume to prove their worth?
Suspicions Over a Sensitive Name
The peak of the backlash centers on the character’s name: Jin Chao. Many have pointed out that when spoken quickly or in certain conversational contexts, the name sounds uncomfortably close to a racial slur directed at Asian people that has existed for a long time.
This coincidence is being viewed as a major oversight in the studio’s editing and content review process. Choosing a name that evokes such negative associations for a character already burdened with stereotypes is seen as “adding fuel to the fire,” highlighting a lack of cultural sensitivity within the production team.
What Future for the Sequel?
Despite the storm of criticism, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is sticking to its release schedule for late April in China and early May in Western markets. The return of Meryl Streep as the formidable Miranda Priestly and Anne Hathaway as a matured Andy Sachs was expected to dominate the box office, but now, the shadows of prejudice are clouding the film’s appeal.
The Guardian reported that they contacted representatives for 20th Century Studios, but the studio has remained silent. In an era where audiences are increasingly demanding better representation on screen, if the filmmakers fail to provide an explanation or make adjustments, Jin Chao could become the “Achilles’ heel” that topples Miranda Priestly’s fashion empire just before its grand opening.
A film about fashion is supposed to celebrate innovation and beauty. However, with what has been shown through Jin Chao’s introduction, The Devil Wears Prada 2 seems to be wearing an old cloak of discrimination—a choice that, in the words of Miranda Priestly, is simply “unacceptable.”